The Best $1,000 Projector

The BenQ HT1075 is the best $1,000 projector for those who want a bright, colorful, detailed image—better than what’s possible with cheap projectors—but don’t want to spend more than twice as much for the next serious upgrade. I base this on over 25 hours of research and 50 hours of directly testing seven competing models (and considering six others) with the objective measurements of $20,000 worth of testing gear. The HT1075 has one of the best contrast ratios in its class and light output that’s brighter than some projectors that cost three times as much. What sets the HT1075 apart is accurate color, which makes for a more realistic image than the rest of the field.

Last Updated: November 6, 2014

Updated to note that our pick has optional 3D glasses, but does not come with them.

October 16, 2014:
We considered 13 projectors and tested seven competing models for more than 50 hours (with $20,000 worth of gear) to find the best $1,000 projector. We found that the BenQ HT1075 has best-in-class color accuracy and superior contrast ratios with light output brighter than projectors that cost three times as much, adding up to the most realistic image for the price.

September 16, 2014:
We've tested the new HT1075 from BenQ, which is a bit improved over its predecessor and therefore our new pick. We’re working on a new guide; look for it in about a week.

June 17, 2014:
We tested several new projectors using $20,000 worth of equipment to find the BenQ W1070 is still the best projector for ~$1000. It's brighter than projectors 3x the price and has one of the best contrast ratios in its class.

March 13, 2014:
Linked to CNET's review of the BenQ W1080ST, our recommendation for smaller rooms.

March 4, 2014:
Added the Optoma HD25 to the list of projectors we don't recommend. Compared to our pick, the image is less accurate image, and it lacks a really bright mode, is less flexible with positioning, has fewer calibration controls, and has slightly worse contrast.

November 13, 2013:
Updated the competition section with the Epson Home Cinema 2030. Though it matches the light output of our pick, its color accuracy isn’t as good, and the contrast ratio is lower. The BenQ is still the better buy.

The BenQ HT1075 has one of the best contrast ratios in its class, more realistic color than the competition, and is brighter than some projectors that cost three times as much. For the price, it’s truly the best in this range.

This is the new and upgraded model from our previous pick, the W1070, which is still available but being discontinued (check out our What about the previous pick? section for more information). If you currently have the W1070, or any recent similarly priced projector, it’s probably not worth upgrading to our new pick. While the HT1075 is a little better in terms of color accuracy, brightness and contrast ratio, and while it adds some features over the W1070 (and other models), the performance is similar enough we don’t recommend spending an additional $1,000.

The Optoma HD25-LV doesn’t look quite as good as our top pick, but it’s a lot brighter and can handle giant screen sizes.

That said, if you have an older (5+ years) LCD or DLP projector, the HT1075 likely produces more light, better colors, and a better contrast ratio to make a brighter, richer, punchier image. If that’s worth $1,000 to you, you’ll get it by upgrading. If you’ve currently got an LCD projector, the BenQ likely looks sharper with motion (like sports and games) and probably has a better contrast ratio (for a punchier, less washed out image).

If our main pick is sold out or becomes unavailable, we also like the slightly-more-expensive $900 Optoma HD25-LV. While the BenQ looks a little better overall, the HD25-LV is capable of a truly amazing light output for those that want epic (over 150-inch diagonal) screen sizes.

If you’re limited on space and want/need the projector less than 9 feet from a 100-inch screen, the HT1085ST is basically the same as our top pick but made to be placed roughly 40% closer to the screen.

If you have a smaller room (with the projector closer than 9 feet from a 100-inch screen), or want to place the projector closer to the screen and still have a big image (say, under 5 feet for a 100-inch image), check out the HT1075’s short-throw sister model, the BenQ HT1085ST. The specs are basically the same, aside from the different lens. What’s a “smaller room”? Any situation where you want or need to put the projector fewer than 9 feet from the screen and still want a 100-inch (or larger) image. Check out the section on short-throws below and/or ProjectorCentral’s great Projection Calculator to see how well the projector fits in your room.

Rainbows aren’t a concern for most people, but if they are for you, the Epson 3020 is a decent LCD pick.

The BenQ uses DLP technology, which creates artifacts known as “rainbows.” Most people don’t notice or aren’t bothered by them, but some people do and are. The Epson 3020 cost a little more but is based on LCD technology, so it won’t create rainbows. The performance is similar, though not quite as good as the W1070; for most people, we still recommend the BenQ.

If $1,000 is more than you want to spend, check out our pick for best $500 projector. The light output is roughly the same, as is the contrast ratio, but the colors aren’t quite as good. The biggest difference is that our $500 projector pick is 720p, about half the resolution of the HT1075 (1080p). This means the image isn’t as detailed, and on larger screens, you’re more likely to see individual pixels. Or, if you’re interested in spending more and going all the way, we have a separate piece for our Awesome Projector pick.

Why should you listen to me?

Who am I to make these judgments? I’ve been reviewing TVs and projectors for over a decade for magazines like Home Theater, Home Entertainment, and Sound & Vision. In addition to the Wirecutter, I write about video technologies for CNET and Forbes. I’m ISF and NIST trained, and I own highly-specialized objective testing gear to put projectors through their paces.

Who’s this guide for?

Projectors can range in price from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. Here’s the tricky part—there isn’t a linear increase in picture quality as you go up in price. More often, there are gems at specific price points. In my experience reviewing projectors of all prices, going up in price generally gets you a better contrast ratio (and therefore a better-looking image). But going up in price does not always guarantee more light output (our BenQ pick is brighter than several $3,000 projectors), nor does it guarantee more features (3D, etc.).

Our pick is for someone who wants good picture quality but doesn’t want to spend more money on our $2,500 pick for An Awesome Projector and also wants a better (and higher-resolution) image than our $500 pick.

How we picked

For our original article, we compiled a list of all the projectors in the $1,000 price range that had positive reviews. It was a surprisingly short list, as there aren’t a lot of websites that review projectors with the in-depth, objective measurements we’re looking for. We also eliminated business projectors, since their colors and processing aren’t typically as good for movies and TV as a “home theater” projector. Unlike some of the categories we cover here at the Wirecutter, this one is pretty small; there’s only a handful of companies and models.

There were a few cases where a manufacturer had more than one model that seemed to fit our criteria; we asked them which they thought was most suited to our requirements and the competition we were including.

Our October 2014 update was a bit easier. BenQ replaced our main pick, so we got the new model in and tested it against the previous pick. Thankfully, it was a bit better in every way for the same price the W1070 was initially.

Our pick

The BenQ HT1075 has one of the best contrast ratios in its class, more realistic color than the competition, and is brighter than some projectors that cost three times as much. For the price, it’s truly the best in this range.

The BenQ HT1075 is the only projector in this price range that offers accurate colors, meaning its image is more realistic and lifelike than other models. It’s also bright, has a decent contrast ratio, and has great detail with motion. Overall the image is better than most projectors from five or more years ago and as good (if not better than) many at several times its price.

At first glance, you’d be hard-pressed to see any differences between our previous pick (the W1070) and our new pick, the HT1075. As their model numbers suggest, this is a small update between them. But since the 1070 was so good, BenQ didn’t need to mess with much. The major feature differences are a 10 percent claimed boost in light output, MHL compatibility, an additional HDMI input, and… well that’s about it. The case is even about the same.

On a 102-inch screen, 46 fL is very bright and means you can have an even larger screen and have the image still be bright.

On a 102-inch screen, 46 fL is very bright and means you can have an even larger screen and have the image still be bright. For example, a 150-inch screen would still be around 21 fL, which is still brighter than what most projectors from a few years ago could do on a 100-inch screen. This is about 5 percent brighter than the W1070, though that’s close to the amount of difference I’d expect between two of the same models, or even standard measurement error. As in, our pick is at least as bright, maybe a little more, than the W1070.

The contrast ratio improved a bit: 2,314:1 from the W1070’s 1,953:1. Looking at the two, the HT1075 does look a little bit better, with a little more depth and punch to the image. It’s a small improvement, though.

Color, too, is slightly improved. Every color is a little more accurate than the W1070, which already looked far more realistic than every other projector in this price range. The performance of $1,000 projectors in most ways is so similar, you’d think they were all made in the same factory. So the color accuracy with the W1070 and HT1075 is a huge deal since most projectors in this range have colors (green especially) that are not as realistic. Grass, for example, looks more realistic on the HT1705 than on many other budget-oriented projectors.

We also appreciated the built-in vertical lens shift, which gives you some wiggle room in terms of where you can place the projector while still maintaining an undistorted image. You can only shift the lens by a little bit, but that’s better than nothing, which is the case with most projectors in this price range. And it’s way better than using digital keystone correction, which robs you of actual screen space by reducing the number of active pixels contributing to the image.

Grass, for example, looks more realistic on the HT1705 than on many other budget-oriented projectors.

Like nearly all modern projectors, the HT1075 uses UHP lamps to create the light you see on screen. These gradually dim and need to be replaced. BenQ estimates lamp life between 3,500 and 6,000 hours depending on the mode. The current replacement cost is around $200. These numbers are all in line with other projectors. If you watch the HT1075 for 5 hours a night in the SmartEco mode, the lamp will last you over 3 years.

So basically, BenQ kept what was good with the W1070, added a couple new features, tweaked the performance slightly, and kept the price the same. No huge changes, but an incremental improvement for the same money certainly isn’t bad.

Who else likes it?

We’re one of the first sites to get our hands on the new BenQ, so there aren’t a lot of professional reviews yet.

“With its exceptionally bright and sharp 1080p images, this is an easy projector to recommend for those on a budget.” – Chris Heinonen, HT1075 review

Our own Chris Heinonen reviewed the HT1075 for his website. He found, “The BenQ HT1075 is currently retailing at $980 and at that price this little projector delivers a lot of performance. With its exceptionally bright and sharp 1080p images, this is an easy projector to recommend for those on a budget.”

ProjectorReviews.com liked it, but wanted more from the W1070 replacement: “The W1070 was/is a great projector value, and so is its replacement, the HT1075, but I do have my issues with it. Primarily, after waiting about 2 years for this new replacement, although it has improvements, I find that the improvements are mostly minor, and don’t much affect the picture quality.” He did say, though, “…the BenQ HT1075 has got to be on everyone’s short list whether shopping for a home entertainment projector or more of an enthusiast’s affordable home theater projector!”

ProjectorCentral.com concluded, “The new BenQ HT1075 is a solid update to the venerable W1070. It manages to keep all of the good features of the older model while adding a few new touches to make the refresh worthwhile. Actual image performance hasn’t changed much, if at all, but the W1070 was already one of the best home theater projectors in its price range.”

Flaws but not dealbreakers

As far as 3D goes, the HT1075 is a bit of a mixed bag. The image is bright, and there’s not a lot of crosstalk (a partial “ghost” image next to the real image, a common 3D issue). The optional active glasses are OK, though a bit small. The 3D mode causes blacks to have a red tint. It’s really noticeable without the glasses on, but through the glasses it’s not that distracting. Since most people don’t watch much 3D (if at all), and an even smaller few would be bothered by the red tint, I didn’t feel this was a dealbreaker.

Like any small projector, the HT1075 is not quiet. It has small fans to keep the lamp cool. It’s maybe a bit louder than a refrigerator or a desktop computer, but much quieter than an air conditioner. It’s not as loud as some projectors, but it’s definitely not as quiet as our $2,500 Awesome Projector pick. Depending on where you put the projector, you’ll notice it during certain movie/TV scenes (like intimate dialog).

One step back in performance that we found is the input lag, or how long it takes for the projector to create an image. If you’re a gamer, the input lag is how long it takes for the action you take (a button press) to appear on screen. If you’re not a gamer, input lag generally doesn’t matter.

With high input lag, you’ll miss more than you hit, regardless of your reflexes. The W1070 had a low input lag of 33 milliseconds. The HT1075 has a more average input lag of 49.7 ms. Is this a big deal? No. If you’re a hardcore gamer, should you seek out a projector that has the lowest possible input lag? I don’t think so, especially since you’d be getting a projector that overall looks worse than the HT1075.

For most gamers, 49.7 ms is probably lower than the TV you’re using now and still on the low side of average for current displays.

If you’re obsessed with low input lag, our $500 pick has an input lag of 33 ms, and our Awesome Projector pick has a mode with 26 ms of input lag.

For small rooms

If you’re limited on space and want/need the projector less than 9 feet from a 100-inch screen, the HT1085ST is basically the same as our top pick but made to be placed roughly 40% closer to the screen.

BenQ also released a new short-throw projector based on the HT1075, called the HT1085ST. For smaller rooms (if you want or need the projector closer than roughly 9 feet while still making a 100-inch image), the HT1085ST is the better pick. It can create a larger image when placed closer to the screen than the HT1075.

To create a 100-inch image, the HT1075 needs to be a minimum of 8.6 feet from the screen (give or take a bit). The HT1085ST can do an equivalent image from 5 feet (per ProjectorCentral’s great Projection Calculator).

What about the previous pick?

As we mentioned, the HT1075 is so close in performance to the previous pick (W1070) that we don’t recommend anyone upgrade from one to the other. If you’re curious, though, the HT1075 is a little bit better in every way. It’s a touch brighter, has a little bit better contrast, the color is a little more accurate, and there’s a little less noise. Watching them side-by-side (ok, technically stacked above and below), the HT1075 looks subjectively about 10-15 percent better while watching actual video.

At the moment, you can still pick up the W1070 for $730. This presents an interesting choice. The HT1075 looks better enough that most people should consider the extra $270 to be worth spending in order to go for our (new) main pick. But if $1,000 is already a stretch and every single dollar counts, the W1070 is still a great projector.

If the price of the W1070 rises above $850, definitely save and get the HT1075 instead.

The runner-up

The Optoma HD25-LV doesn’t look quite as good as our top pick, but it’s a lot brighter and can handle giant screen sizes.

The $900 Optoma HD25-LV is a great projector that’s a little less expensive than the BenQ, but doesn’t look quite as good—the colors are slightly less accurate and contrast ratio is lower than our main pick. It is, however, a lot brighter. So it’s a good alternate choice if the BenQ sells out or becomes unavailable.

Keep in mind, overall light output is just one aspect of a projector’s performance, and the BenQ is definitely not dim. As mentioned, the HT1075 put out an already impressively bright 46 footlamberts on my 102-inch, 1.0-gain Stewart Screen.

However, the HD25-LV, on the same screen, put out more than 60 fL. This is as bright as many LCD TVs and brighter than most plasma TVs. Do you need this much light? Most people won’t. No projector can compete with ambient light in a room. Just throwing more light at the problem isn’t going to solve what some shades and turning off a lamp will. The BenQ can easily fill a 150-inch screen with a bright image (around 21 fL, more if you have a high-gain screen). I’m not sure how much larger a screen will fit in a normal room. Brighter doesn’t necessarily mean “better,” and when both projectors are bright, the distinction loses even more meaning.

As far as how the Optoma compares to the BenQ, the BenQ’s colors are much more accurate and its contrast ratio is a better 2,314:1 than the Optoma’s 1,541:1. This means the image will have more apparent “depth” and seem less washed out than the Optoma’s.

So for most people we think the BenQ is the better option, but if you really think you need even more light or the BenQ isn’t available, the HD25-LV is an excellent alternative.

The LCD option (no rainbows)

Rainbows aren’t a concern for most people, but if they are for you, the Epson 3020 is a decent LCD pick.

The $1,400 Epson 3020 offers similar picture quality to our pick, but it’s almost $500 more expensive. However, because it’s an LCD projector, it doesn’t suffer from “rainbows.” If you’re annoyed by those artifacts, the Epson is a good alternative, albeit one that’s nearly double the price. It’s not really a great a value for most people.

From CNET’s review: “In many of the tests, including black levels, the BenQ [W1070] and the Epson 3020 were neck-and-neck, with the BenQ losing to the Epson slightly on shadow detail and reproducing more-natural colors, especially in darker areas.” They also said, “Only some slight color aberrations, a very noisy iris motor, and a better performance from the cheaper BenQ W1070 spoil things for this Epson.” They rate the Epson at three out of five stars to the BenQ’s 3.5.

The Epson also has much worse input lag (89 ms) and won’t have as sharp motion detail (given that it’s LCD, not DLP).

So if you know you can’t stand rainbows (they don’t bother most people), this is a good alternative. Otherwise, the BenQ is a much better deal.

What does spending more get you?

To really step up in picture quality, you need to spend a fair amount more. If you want a big jump in picture quality, the next step is the $2,500-$3,500 range. These are the prices of our Awesome Projector pick (Sony VPL-HW40ES) and its honorable mention, the JVC DLA-X35. The Sony isn’t quite as bright as the BenQ (39 fL to the BenQ’s 46), but it has a much better contrast ratio (5,151:1). The Sony is also a lot quieter and has extensive lens shift, so it’s easier to fit in different rooms.

The JVC is even less bright (29.48 fL) but has a significantly higher contrast ratio (38,195:1). It’s worth noting JVC’s projectors have the highest native contrast ratios of any display type (including all other projectors and even plasma and LED LCD TVs).

Is the additional cost worth it? If you want the best picture quality, yes. However, the BenQ looks really good, so if spending ~$3,000 is a stretch, definitely get our top pick here instead.

What if you want to spend less?

If $1,000 is too much for you, check out our pick for a $500 projector. It’s actually even brighter than the BenQ (54 fL) and the contrast ratio is only slightly less (1,920:1). However, the colors aren’t nearly as accurate. More importantly, it’s only 720p to the BenQ’s 1080p.

What this means is the Acer is going to look softer than the BenQ. On really big screens (over 100-inches), depending on how far away you’re sitting (under 9 feet, say), you might be able to see individual pixels with the Acer (it depends on your eyesight and what you’re watching). The colors won’t look quite as realistic, though that’s a little harder to notice if you don’t have the projectors back to back. The BenQ also has a little less video noise, so it’s got a “cleaner” image.

Honestly, the BenQ isn’t twice as good as the Acer, despite what the numbers and price suggest. It’s definitely better, subjectively 50-75% better, and absolutely worth the money. But those on a tighter budget should consider testing out the Acer.

The competition

One of the most interesting projectors to hit the shelves recently is the Optoma HD141X, a $600 1080p projector, one of the first to hit that price. Chris Heinonen got one in and found its contrast ratio to be extremely lackluster, around 650:1. This will look much more washed out than our pick and even our $500 pick. Light output is lower too, at around 30 fL.

The lower price is great, as is the added resolution over our $500 pick, but that contrast ratio is too low to recommend. We’re sure that there will be more 1080p projectors available in the coming year, but this first one isn’t as good of a value as it first appears. For now, we recommend spending a bit more on the HT1075 or a bit less on the Acer.

The Optoma HD26 has dropped in price and is now $700. The only difference to the HD141X appears to be 7% more light output and a 25% claimed increase in contrast ratio. The brightness is not an issue, and increasing the contrast 25% isn’t enough to make it competitive.

We reviewed several new models recently, and then a bunch more for the previous update, all of those are listed here. The tl;dr version? While the light output and contrast ratio of $1,000 DLP models are very similar, the BenQ’s more accurate color makes it much better looking.

InFocus IN8606 and IN3138: Basically identical from the outside, the IN3138 is rated for more light output. However, in our testing, there’s a weird video processing bug that eliminated these from testing. There’s a smearing with motion, most notably with 1080i content, that makes them look significantly worse than the BenQ and Optoma HD25-LV.

A triplet to the InFocus twins, the Vivitek H1180HD has a white case to the InFocus’s black. However, the same video processing bug is here as well. Not recommended.

The projectors below were dismissed in the original article, as not being able to compete against the W1070, so by extension they’re also not as good as the HT1075.

The Optoma HD20 was an excellent projector when it came out, but has since been surpassed in picture quality by the newer W1075. From ProjectorReviews.com: “Black level performance is very entry level,” and “The HD20 has come down from $999 to typically selling for $700 to $800, which is great, but we look forward to its replacement.” It’s also not as bright as the W1070, rated for 1,700 lumens to the BenQ’s 2,000.

The Epson PowerLite 8350 has been a popular choice and is still available. But that “still” can be an issue, since it was released in 2010.

Another contender is the Optoma HD25. It is very similar, with a single DLP chip, and reviews found that it’s a little better with 3D due to RF glasses support and it has slightly less lag for video games. Compared to the BenQ W1070, it gives a less accurate image, lacks the really bright mode the BenQ has, is less flexible with positioning, has fewer controls for calibration, and has slightly worse contrast. For most people, the benefits on the BenQ are more important that what the Optoma HD25 offers, and the BenQ usually sells for less.

The more expensive HD33, also several years old, was an excellent choice when it was new. It too has been usurped by the cheaper W1070. Again from ProjectorReviews.com: “A number of additional 3D capable models started shipping since, which tended to make the HD33 not stand out,” and “The brighter Epsons and some others made it hard to stay focused on the some of the Optoma HD33′s strengths.” The HD33 also has no lens shift and is rated for 1,800 lumens.

The Epson PowerLite 8350 has been a popular choice and is still available. But that “still” can be an issue, since it was released in 2010. Lifehacker readers recently voted it the “Most Popular Home Theater Projector,” but it’s just not good anymore. While a great value for the performance several years ago, it doesn’t hold up to our current pick. The contrast ratio is slightly worse, and it can’t hold a candle (pun intended) to the extreme light output of the BenQ. In short, it’s not as bright, it’s more expensive, and it doesn’t look as good as the W1070.

The $750 Epson 750HD has its own niche, being one of the brightest projectors available (at any price). It is a lot brighter than the W1070 (upwards of 50 percent brighter in my measurements), and the W1070 is already very bright. However, the contrast ratio is much lower and at upwards of 200 inches (where that brightness will make a difference) the W1070 more or less catches up. From my review at Sound & Vision: “The black level, however, was also quite high. Calling it “black” is a bit of a misnomer, as 0.133 is definitely more a light gray.

As a result, the native contrast ratio, 573:1, is really poor. This is one of the lowest I’ve measured in years. The image looks quite washed out, lacking the pseudo-depth found on higher contrast ratio displays.” It’s also 1,280×800 pixels, not the full 1080p of the W1070. In reality, the BenQ will create a decently bright image on screens up to 200 inches diagonal (16 by 9 feet) without taking into account screen gain (which would allow you to go even larger). The Epson would offer roughly the same level of brightness on 250-inch screens that the BenQ does on a 200-inch, but the image itself would not be as good (at any size) as what is possible with the BenQ.

Epson recently launched the $900 Home Cinema 2030, a direct competitor for our pick. However, in my review for Sound & Vision magazine, I found it doesn’t offer the performance of the BenQ. The Epson offers roughly the same light output, but color accuracy isn’t as good (they don’t look quite as realistic). More importantly, the contrast ratio is significantly lower, not much higher than 15 percent of the BenQ’s. As such, the image looks washed out, with shadows and black clothing looking grayish instead of black. Also, the input lag is significantly higher than the BenQ, meaning it’s not as good for gamers. An input lag reducing processing mode is present but reduces resolution, making the image look softer. So if you’re bothered by DLP rainbows, the 3020, though more expensive, is a better option than the 2030. The 3020 has gotten better reviews, even though it’s more expensive. So for most people, we still recommend the better-performing BenQ W1070.

What makes a good projector?

The two most important attributes of a projector are contrast ratio and brightness. Contrast ratio is the difference between the brightest part of the image and the darkest. A high contrast ratio would mean dark blacks and bright whites. A low contrast ratio would mean the image is more washed out, usually with more gray-looking blacks.

If contrast ratio is how good the image looks, the brightness is how large an image you can create and how bright it is.

Brightness, or light output, is almost equally important in a projector as contrast ratio. The light output determines not only how bright the image is (obviously) but also how large an image you can create (image brightness decreases with image size), and thus in many ways what type of screen you can use.

So if contrast ratio is how good the image looks, the brightness is how large an image you can create and how bright it is. These two factors are followed in importance by color accuracy, and, more distantly, resolution and color temperature. Most ~$1,000 projectors are 1080p, so resolution isn’t a big concern. No projector in this range has a great contrast ratio, but some are certainly better than others.

After contrast ratio and brightness, color is the next most important consideration. Accurate color means everything you see will seem more realistic and natural. The HT1075 is one of the few projectors in this price range that has even remotely accurate color. Better higher-end projectors, like our Awesome Projector pick, also have accurate colors.

Resolution is the last of the big picture quality items. Far more important in a projector than a TV, ideally you want a full 1080p projector. This way you can create a big, detailed image with no chance for visible pixels. 720p projectors look a little softer, and when creating a big image (or you’re sitting close), the pixels are visible; in the extreme, there can be a sort of looking-through-a-screen-door effect.

Lastly, all projectors need a screen of some sort. Just shining them on a wall isn’t ideal and won’t result in the projector looking its best. Screens don’t have to be expensive. For more info on that, check out The Best Projector Screen (for most people).

Why not a business projector?

Business projectors are designed for different criteria than home theater projectors. The biggest difference is color. Most business projectors have colors most conducive for brightness, not the colors to produce the best image for movies. So the image may not be realistic, with cartoony greens, washed-out reds, and cyan-looking blues. Color temperature, or the “color” of white, is another issue. Most business projectors are very blue/greenish in color, which is best for light output. Home theater projectors are warmer, producing more natural-looking images. Check out “What is TV color temperature, and why does it matter?” for more info.

If you’re just looking for something to create a bright picture without concern for picture quality, then any projector will do.

It’s also important to keep in mind that if you want a realistic-looking image, and the business projector 1) has a setting for it 2) lets you adjust the picture settings, this is usually going to reduce the light output considerably. So a 3,500 lumen business projector might be “just” 2,000 lumens putting out a decent image.

Lastly, not all business projectors have HDMI (though many do). Without HDMI (and the HDCP copy protection protocol), you won’t be able to get an HD image into it other than from a computer.

How much all this matters is up to you. If you’re just looking for something to create a bright picture without concern for picture quality, then any projector will do. But to create a decent image for movies or TV, it’s best to start with a home theater projector.

Rainbows: what are they?

Bright objects on a dark background (like streetlights zooming by during a night scene), will trail a multi-colored rainbow to the average eye.

There’s no such thing as a perfect display or display technology. DLP’s Achilles heel is an artifact called “rainbows.” Bright objects on a dark background (like streetlights zooming by during a night scene), will trail a multi-colored rainbow. Not everyone notices these rainbows. Not everyone who does notice them is bothered by them (I’m in this category). Some people notice them, though, and it drives them crazy. This latter category is a small minority, but they’re a very vocal minority. Most people aren’t bothered by rainbows, especially on projectors like the BenQ that have a 6x color wheel (older DLP projectors had slower color wheels).

ProjectorCentral.com mentioned this in their review: “6X Speed Color Wheel: The W1070 has a six-segment color wheel in the theater-optimized RGBRGB configuration. This wheel layout maximizes color without artificially boosting white, and is preferred for its ability to render natural color. What’s more, the wheel gives an effective refresh rate of six times per frame. This should eliminate color separation artifacts (rainbows) for all but the most hypersensitive of viewers.”

However, if you are sensitive to rainbows, there are two LCD options. The $800 Epson 750HD is even brighter than the BenQ, but the contrast ratio is far worse. The $1,400 Epson 3020 is our step-up pick and a decent all-around projector.

What about lasers/LEDs?

Most projectors use replaceable lamps to create the light you see. Over time, these dim and need to be replaced. How long they last depends mostly on usage, and any estimates provided by companies are a guideline at best. There are some LED and laser/LED hybrid projectors on the market (with more coming). However, right now their performance isn’t up to the standards set by the BenQ.

It’s worth noting that BenQ’s estimate for the HT1075’s lamp ranges from 3,500 to 6,000 hours depending on what mode you use (brighter modes lead to shorter lives). This compares well with Optoma’s rating on the HD25-LV (3,500-6,000 hours) and Epson’s on the 750HD (4,000-5,000 hours).

Wrapping it up

Like its predecessor, the HT1075 definitely punches above its weight. It’s one of the few projectors in its price range that has accurate colors. It has a bright, punchy image with low noise. You’d have to spend a lot more to do better.

Sources

“The BenQ W1070 offers very good picture quality for the price, including respectable black levels and excellent color accuracy. 3D playback is excellent.” “If you want a huge, good-looking image for a little money, few come close to the BenQ W1070 projector.”

“I’m supposed to be really critical and demanding as a reviewer, but after watching the BenQ for a few weeks, most people I know would be very happy to have it in their homes. Almost my entire family was over at my house for a party, and in small groups they kept making their way to the home theater as I’d installed new seating they wanted to check out. With a film playing on the W1070 as they came in, everyone left impressed with the image, and not a single one said, “That’s nice, but…” They just left impressed. The BenQ W1070 is bright, has a great image, and is cheap. If you want an incredibly affordable way to get a huge, good-looking image in your home, the BenQ W1070 is a fantastic way to do so, and one that I highly recommend checking out.”

“Overall, the W1070 proved to be a pretty darn good, slightly better than average single-chip DLP projector.” “While not perfect, BenQ’s W1070 single-chip 3D HD DLP projector is a great starting point for those considering getting into the front-projection game. Its sub-$1,000 retail price makes it obtainable for many, and its supreme brightness and above-average performance make it a candidate for rooms where there may be some ambient light concerns (think media rooms). The fact that it’s so small, eco-friendly and sold just about everywhere only sweetens the deal.”

“Turns out that the BenQ W1070 is, in fact, that rare breed: It offers really good performance while being one of the least expensive 1080p-rez 3D projectors you can buy. I wish it had a better contrast ratio and zoom range, but then again, I’m willing to forgive a lot for something that costs barely more than a cheap 50-inch plasma. It’s also a lot better (and makes a bigger image) than the affordable, ultra-large LCDs flooding the market. I hesitate to assign a subjective numeric judgment, but here it is anyway: I’d say the W1070 offers 70% of the performance of projectors in the $3,000-4,000 price range for less than a third of their cost. While it’s not perfect, it’s bright, fairly accurate, and, for the price, quite excellent.”

“The BenQ W1070 is a great little home video projector that produces a 2D image that looks more expensive than it is. High light output and great shadow detail help the W1070 stand up to ambient light, while extensive color controls and solid factory calibrations make it easy to just plug and play.” “But what the W1070 does, it does very well — namely, it provides a great living room experience for high-definition 2D content, and with the lights off it can give you a solid 3D picture with almost zero crosstalk. Most importantly, it does all this at a price that’s highly competitive in today’s market.”

“In many of the tests, including black levels, the BenQ and the Epson 3020 were neck-and-neck, with the BenQ losing to the Epson slightly on shadow detail and reproducing more-natural colors, especially in darker areas.”

Own one of these and agree that it’s outstanding. Even the DAC is high-end: passing through HDMI input audio to the stereo output jack yields superb sound quality – something else I certainly wasn’t expecting on a ‘budget’ unit.

I’d also be interested in a comparison with the similarly-priced Optoma (HD25 non-LV model; or HD230x); although it lacks lens shift and has a slower color wheel.

On the subject of color wheel: the BenQ wheel runs at full speed at an input framerate of 50hz; so this is the refresh-rate to set on your video sources if you’re susceptible to rainbows (rather than the ‘usual’ 24hz or 60hz)…

Anonymous

How is the lag for games?

I think you should be giving the Panasonic PT-AR100U a look and a reason to discount it. In this price range I think amount of light matters most as it is more likely you won’t have a dedicated blackout space for the machine.

A feature that’s quite important to me in projectors, but hasn’t been mentioned in this review, is how noisy the unit is. I used to have a Mitsubishi HC1500 (a number of years ago), and eventually got rid of it because I couldn’t stand the hum/whine.

kreeturez

This projector is definitely not silent, unfortunately.
Although it’s pretty quiet when on SmartEco mode, both Eco and Normal mode are quite loud. (Although few projectors are silent).

Chris F

I cant figure out which is better for a fairly dark basement home theater room, this or the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 2030? Projector Central certainly likes the 2030 better, but I am no expert.

What do you think?

http://twitter.com/rickroberts Rick Roberts

Do you think 17 feet is too far to project? I think that would yield a 180-inch picture (diagonally). Would it wash out too much at that distance/size?

Geoff Morrison

That’s a pretty massive screen. Based on the measurements on my screen, I calculate you’ll get about 14 ftL (feel free to check my math, based on screen area). 14 ftL is not very bright, but it’s “OK” and watchable in a dark room. If you get a positive gain screen, that might help a little, getting you closer to 20 ftL maybe.

My other concern is that depending on where you’re sitting, you might see pixels.

alalaw

Any thoughts on the newly released Optoma HD-25e, 2,800 ANSI lumens, currently $949.00 @ Amazon?
Or, the newly released Optoma HD25-LV, 3,200 ANSI lumens, currently $1,172.99 @ Amazon?
Or, the Optoma HD131Xe, 2,500 ANSI lumens, which appears to be a slightly, de-featured HD25e (both use the same lamp), currently $757.99 with a $50.00 Amazon credit = $707.99 @ Amazon???

KD

I own one of these (which I hook up to a DVD player), and I also own a Big Jambox bluetooth speaker. Can anyone tell me how I can stream from the Projector/DVD to the bluetooth speaker? I know I need to get a Bluetooth transmitter, but it’s not clear to me where i would plug it in or what type of connection (headphone/3.5mm? RCA?) I would need. Thanks.

eaadams

Panasonic PT-AR100U? Not in your 1K range but close enough no?

David

Such a great article! Thanks!

John

$799 today on Amazon

olee22

I have seen complaints in forums and in amazon reviews, talking about DUST accumulating INSIDE the Benq projectors, apparently in several models. The only remedy according to the forum messages is to send it back, but the exchange models suffered from the same problem. Here’s an image on this link.
Can you investigate this?
You can translate the amazon.de sites with translate.google.com.

The Optoma HD20 was an excellent projector when it came out, but has since been surpassed in picture quality by the newer W1070. FromProjectorReviews.com: “Black level performance is very entry level,” and “The HD20 has come down from $999 to typically selling for $700 to $800, which is great, but we look forward to its replacement.” It’s also not as bright as the W1070, rated for 1,700 lumens to the BenQ’s 2,000.

hdb

I said the HD-25 not the HD-20. Most review sites make it too close to call between the Optoma HD-25 and the Benq W1070. I am a little distrustful that you are so ignoring the competition and pushing the Benq so strongly.

Mike C.

What is the best screen for this projector? I just picked one up and am looking for a 90″ to 100″ screen.

http://www.muzicman82.net Nick Marques

I work in Pro-AV and have mixed feelings about this verdict. BenQ is one of those brands that always looks great on paper, and sometimes they measure up in performance, but for the price tag there is always going to be some snags.

I deal regularly with brands like Eiki, Sanyo, Digital Projection, Panasonic, Hitachi, etc. I have installed a few BenQ projectors and in most cases, something didn’t go right.

The first one I put in a few years ago did not “re-handshake” HDMI/DVI inputs after a power off/on cycle, which according to Extron and Kramer, IS something that is supposed to happen. The end result is that head end electronics were not picking up the EDID each time. The solution was you had to change to a different input and back for this handshake to happen. REALLY messed up the flow of things. There are EDID minders that help. BenQ’s support was less than good.

Color reproduction on “budget” projectors is getting better with DLP but in most cases, you can’t get adequate brightness AND accurate color on the same ticket. 2000 ANSI lumens is OK for a Home Theater with controlled lighting on a good 1.0 gain screen.

I’m sure many people can buy this model and be 100% satisfied.

My biggest annoyance is when people buy this type of projector for BUSINESS or conference room use. You can’t put a 2k or sometimes even a 3k projector on a screen, leave fluorescent lights on, and have an acceptable picture.

In short, I would title this “The Best $1,000 Projector for Home Theater Use w/ Lights Out”.

I think It is very similar with a single DLP chip and reviews find it is a
little better with 3D due to RF glasses support and a has slightly less
lag for video games. Compared to the BenQ W1070 it is a less accurate
image, lacks the really bright mode the BenQ has, is less flexible with
positioning, has fewer controls for calibration, and has slightly worse
contrast. Thanks for sharing.Portable Projector

Fais

To project a picture on a 102 inch screen, at what distance from the screen should this projector be placed?

But keep in mind this is a rough estimate, and shouldn’t be taken as exact.

Fais

Thanks for the link, very helpful.

slickrick

ask youself how far yo sitting from the screen so you wont see any discerning artifacts

BHinLV

Hey here…great and informative site!! I have learned a lot perusing it. I am hoping you can help me with a recommendation given a rather narrowed intended use…..I am looking for a projector that will be used 95% of the time for watching sports and movies (and maybe some games) in the evening/night in the backyard here in Michigan on a big screen of (hopefully) of 12′-16′ diag. Superior theater quality is not really critical, obviously, in this application, as it will be more of a thing for kids or in the background during late night drinking/BBQ’s etc. I realize higher contrast and lumens are important, but the specs vs actual reported seem to make those tough factors to sort thru given my intentions….

The boss says I need to keep it under $1200 for the projector. Any targeted suggestions based on your (or any other reader’s) expertise will be much appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!
-Brian

Geoff Morrison

This will work, also check out the $500 projector article. It won’t be as sharp, but it’s about as bright.

Ross Porter

Anyone know if the audio output is line-out? I’m hoping no. I want to connect this projector to powered speakers and I would like to use volume buttons on the projector’s remote to control the sound level.

guestsss

The epson is not an LED projector. What is the best LED projector?

Geoffrey Morrison

Sorry, yeah, typo. Will fix. There are no good LED projectors in this price range yet.

guest

A fantastic feature which, I’m lead to believe, only came about with the newer 1070 firmware, is the ability to manually override what kind of 3d mode (SBS, frame packing, top-bottom) the projector uses with any input source. This is incredibly useful if you want to play 3d movies, using your laptop’s hdmi port as an input source and VLC, or any other media viewer which does not support 3d throughput. It is also useful if, like myself, your A/V receiver is not 3d compatible: For example, if I play a 3d netflix film off my ps3 through an hdmi cable to the A/V receiver, the 1070 does not automatically convert the 3d throuput to “frame packing” because my receiver loses that information when it outputs to the projector. However, thanks to the 3d manual override on the 1070, I can select “frame packing” off of a menu and enjoy both 3d visuals and full HD surround sound through my non-3d A/V receiver’s amp. I bought the 1080ST because of this excellent review on wirecutter, and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the image -and- this wonderful bonus.

I think your reviews are generally all pretty well researched, and the rationale for your choices is explained, but I’m missing something from this one: noise measurements.

You have contrast ratios, ms of input lag, and even footlamberts, but we can only read vague statements about the fan noise. It’s “a little loud”, but “quieter than some” competing models, and the $2500 Sony pick is “a lot quieter” than this Benq.

Why so?

eaadams

I know they are quite room dependent but I would love a wirecutter article on how to buy a screen. I’ve been looking at electric retractable screens and I keep aariving at things that cost more than the projector (black diamond) and it makes me put on the breaks.

Joey

So if I already have a 3-4 year old Epson 8350, is it worth it to upgrade?

Neal

I almost pulled the trigger on the BenQ at Amazon for $699 this week but the Optoma HD25LV has a number of features that make it my choice: 1) Lower input/lag time (2) RF connectivity for 3D glasses (3) Stereo speakers for outdoor broadcasts.

Ikickeyekick

Hy all !

Stupid question : Is it possible to connect your laptop to the projector using a HDMI port ? The manual specifies that you have to use VGA connection which seems kinda weird. Is there a driver to install ? I have a brand new 13 inch retina mac book pro.

Geoffrey Morrison

HDMI is HDMI. The projector should be able to display any normal TV resolution (and likely convert any non-TV-standard resolutions).

Shubham

Just ordered this projector upon reading its praises all over the web. Can someone please suggest a calibration guide for this projector for a newbie. I can’t run a calibration disc like Disney WoW, so will be grateful if you can suggest an alternative to that, thanks.

what kind of testing do you do with $20k worth of equipment? I am very interested in learning more about that.

https://twitter.com/mhzhao Michael Zhao

It’s what was used to measure the contrast ratio, brightness, color accuracy, etc.

cphaaions

“WAIT: September 16, 2014
We’ve tested the new HT1075 from BenQ, which is a bit improved over its predecessor and therefore our new pick. We’re working on a new guide; look for it in about a week.”

Are you guys looking to post the updated guide soon? Looking to see if the $300 difference is worth it. (I’m between the w1070 and the new HT1075)

http://thewirecutter.com/ tony kaye

Sometimes testing can run a bit longer. As soon as its complete I’ll let you know!

cphaaions

Thanks! I was also wondering if the Optoma hd141x was being taken into consideration.. At $600 it almost makes it into the sub-$500 bracket.

Guest

1 month ago: “We’ve tested the new HT1075 from BenQ, which is a bit improved over its predecessor and therefore our new pick. We’re working on a new guide; look for it in about a week.”

What’s the schedule for the update?

http://thewirecutter.com/ tony kaye

Roughly another week. Sorry, sometimes things take longer than expected. As you can tell, we’re kinda detail oriented

Bryan

I need to mount my projector on a back wall 25 feet from my screen that is only going to be about 100in. Are there any projectors that will work for those conditions?

Geoffrey Morrison

That’s pretty rare, and don’t think there’s any at this price that will do it. Even our pick for the next step up (the Sony), or the two runners up (Epson and JVC) will do it. You’re probably looking for a long throw projector, or at least a projector with a long throw option. I don’t know of any offhand that are anywhere near this price (which isn’t to say there aren’t any, I’ve just never had someone ask).

jmc

Thanks for the article and reviews! Similar question, I have a room that is 30 feet across… I haven’t
seen any projectors claim to be able to throw that distance. However, I am not
bound by screen size, my screen wall is 15ft high and 50ft wide. Could the 1075, or the $500 Acer for that matter, handle this? Or, should I look for a way to project from somewhere in the middle of the room?

Geoffrey Morrison

Check the projection calculator in the article, it has max throw distances and screen sizes. Two potential issues. One, image brightness decreases with screen area. So a 140-inch screen is going to be half as bright as a 100-inch screen. That’s probably still fine, but a 200-inch screen will be 25% as bright, which might be pushing it.

The other issue is one of focus, there’s a limited range, and beyond that point you might not be able to focus the image correctly. Not sure what that will be, I’ve never tried it.

Most projectors will list a “maximum” screen size. In the case of the HT1075, they claim 235-inches.

Paul Docherty

Does anyone know if the HT1075 is known under a different product name in the EU? I can see the W1070 for sale here, and it is still listed on the BenQ website for the Netherlands, but I can’t see any sign of the HT1075.
Could it be the W1070+ perhaps?

Geoffrey Morrison

Just checked with BenQ and you’re correct, HT1075=W1070+.

Paul Docherty

Awesome – thanks for this

Paul

How can you write this comparison piece and not discuss the Optoma GT1080 in less there is a vested interest in selling the BenQ product line?

http://thewirecutter.com/ tony kaye

Are you suggesting we didn’t look at that specific Optoma model because we have a specific interest in recommending BenQ products over others? Because we like many Optoma models and chose the Optoma HD25-LV as our runner-up. There is no bias. The BenQ won fair & square.

Geoffrey Morrison

Wow, so instead of just asking about it, you go directly to attacking our integrity. Classy. The GT1080 is a short throw projector, so it is not competition for our main pick.

That means, at best, it’s competition for the short throw option, the HT1085ST. I have yet to review an Optoma projector that has accurate color. So it likely won’t look as good. Also, in testing a similar low price 1080p model, Chris found the contrast ratio to be exceedingly poor. DLP projectors of a similar price and on-paper performance use the same chips, and generally the same light engines from TI. So the performance differences are minimal.

But if the performance is better than the 1080p PJ Chris tested (a big “if”), it might be a reasonable step up for the short throw in the $500 article. Which is currently, it’s worth noting, an Optoma.

That model is nearly 2 years old. I’d like your site a lot more if it had any measurements.

Huck

I personally have a panasonic PT-AR100U and other than having no 3D whatsoever (this was actually a plus for me), being a pretty old model, and being a little pricier ($1,200-$1,300 currently) I believe it compares very well to the options shown (and arguably a better deal than the Epson). It’s real bright, flexible with distance and image shift, colors/contrast are decent, lots of inputs, and it’s 3LCD so no rainbows. The only other mark against it is the slightly lower lamp life than the projectors reviewed, though I think as pointed out, even the panasonic’s projector lamp will still last a very long time.

I think it might be worth splitting the “best 1000 projector” into two categories:
– Best light-controlled home theater projector
– Best bright living room projector

Because let’s be honest, you’re either replacing your TV, or building a theatre in your basement.

Geoffrey Morrison

The AR100 is very old, as you said.

In this price range there wouldn’t be a difference for what I’d recommend for a light controlled room or a living room. All the projectors we looked at were exceptionally bright.

I purchased the Benq HT1085ST about 2 weeks ago. It replaced my, now broken auto iris, Canon 8350. After using the Disney WOW calibration tools I’m very impressed with the HT1085ST’s picture. Like GEOFF said it’s just better than the 8350.

I went with the ST version because I could install it in front of a bulkhead in our theater room and now you don’t even see it. I’ve had no problems with heat. It is a little bit loud but using the eco lamp mode has helped, not a deal breaker.

As for the black levels, I realized that most of the time my family wants some of the lights on the the theater room so they can see popcorn, drinks and playing Kinetic games. So although I’d like super amazing black levels, it’s never viewed in a totally dark room. It was also nice to save some money instead of purchasing a better black level projector.

I haven’t noticed any rainbow effects but I have noticed colour banding, only when navigation game menus but not during movies yet.

http://thewirecutter.com/ tony kaye

Glad it’s working out for you!

anup

how does it compare to acer 6510BD FHD which is 1080p insted of the older 720p projector included in the under 500 projectors

NineteenSeventyNine

I don’t get one thing when you’re comparing to the Epson 2030 (I currently have them both setup side-by-side): you say that the Epson is not a good option if you’re bothered by rainbows, but in the review on Sound and Vision that you link to, you state “no rainbows” as a pro. I’m new to the projector game, so please clarify which it is.

Also, in watching on the Epson for a few days (before getting the BenQ), I notice some wiggly artifacts in the light areas of the picture (like light blue sky). My guess is that this is heat distorsion after the projector has been on a while and the fan is putting hot air in front of the lens. Any ideas? ever seen this? Will it be a bigger problem when I mount on the cieling?

Thanks.

Geoffrey Morrison

It’s worded oddly, but what it’s supposed to say is that if you see rainbows, the 3020 is a better choice over the 2030 because of its better performance.

That might be heat you’re seeing. Different projectors exhaust in different directions. I don’t think it would be any worse on the ceiling.

NineteenSeventyNine

Thanks for the reply.

Right now, Best buy has the Epson 2030 for $799 (so does Amazon) with an additional $125 gift card. The BenQ is still $847… do you still think the BenQ is the better option, price considering?

I don’t really game or watch sports, just TV and movies in a basement with controlled light.

Geoffrey Morrison

I’d still get the BenQ.

NineteenSeventyNine

I really like the color accuracy on this projector, however, one thing I do notice is quite a bit of judder / artifacts / pixilation on text and diagonal lines in games.

What is this caused by? Any way to improve image quality?
As comparing to the Epson 2030, I find the color and blacks far better on the BenQ, but the 2030 to be a much softer, smoother image (in a good way). Tough call between them…

I’m probably going to give it to the BenQ.

dshim83

At their current prices on Amazon (as of 12/12/2014) $700 for the 1070 and $850 for the 1075, which would you recommend for gaming? Obviously it isn’t a substantial difference in input lag, but it seems that $700 is a great price for the W1070.

dshim83

It seems that amazon itself has answered my question in dropping the price of the 1075 to $799. (12/14/2014)

Matthew Kennedy

Why not talk about the bulbs burning out in 100-200 hours???/?

Adam H

Thanks for the in-depth analysis! I wonder if you might be able to give me some advice? I will be showing a video at a gallery for two weeks. The gallery has an out-dated projector and I was hoping I could swap out theirs for a better one for the duration of the show. I could buy the BenQ HT-series HT1075 for $800 at B&H or rent a CANON REALIS WUX400ST LCOS (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/983884-REG/canon_8678b002_realis_wux400st_pro_av.html) for $585. The video will be projected on a wall in a relatively small room. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Cheers
A

Dan P.

I sit 12 feet away from the wall in our basement rec room What distance ( on my ceiling) would I have to mount the BenQ W1070 projector from the wall? In my case should I get a 100″ or 120″ Silver Ticket projection screen? Does the lighting have to dim for optimal viewing or can I leave the lights on?

Any light in the room will wash out the image. This is true for all projectors. The BenQ is pretty bright, but nothing can compete with lamps or sunlight. Football at night (east coast) might be OK, but if you’re on the west coast, you’ll need shades.

You don’t hook up audio to the projector. All the sources would go to the soundbar, and a single HDMI runs from that to the projector.

John

Geoff, I’d be very interested in your advice for my current situation, which is…I’ve currently got a Runco CL-810 in my basement that was installed by the previous owner (I unfortunately don’t have $10k to spend on a projector). It’s started giving me issues, shortly after turning it on it shuts down and the temp. light comes on. I pulled it down and opened it up hoping that I could easily diagnose a faulty fan or something simple that I could replace. Both fans seem to be operating so I’m not sure what the problem is.

Here’s where your advise would be appreciated…what would you say it’s worth to fix such an old, albeit high end projector? We’ve got an extra bulb on hand and I was hoping we could use this for a few years before thinking about a replacement (we’ve only been in the house a year and a half). After reading this article, I’m having a hard time justifying putting any significant amount of money toward a repair, when a seemingly better projector can be had at this price. Thoughts?

Thanks for your time!

Geoffrey Morrison

Did you clean all the filters? There are several, I believe. That could be causing airflow issues. Check that before you replace the lamp.

Jim Elbin

Noob question. We are looking at getting the BenQ 1075 for home where we will use it in our living room with decent light control and sometimes outside on our 12′ inflatable screen. My question is for inside is there merit in getting a gray screen versus a white screen? It will be a DIY job. We are probably going to be running a 84″ – 100″ screen inside.

Geoffrey Morrison

I don’t see much point in gray screens. The contrast ratio is good enough on PJs like the BenQ that the black level isn’t distracting (like it was, say, 10 years ago). Stick with neutral or positive gain.

Geoffrey Morrison was Editor in Chief of Home Entertainment magazine, Tech Editor for Home Theater magazine, and now lives the far less stressful life of a freelancer, writing for CNET, Sound+Vision magazine, Residential Systems magazine, HDGuru.com, and others. His first novel, Undersea, is available in paperback and on all eReaders.

We spent weeks researching more than a dozen subcompact hatchbacks in search of the best ones, and the $19,000 2015 Honda Fit EX is the best for most people. It’s the safest subcompact we found and among the most fuel-efficient. It’s also packed with modern features and seats four people with room to spare. Plus, it can fit cargo that most subcompacts need strapped to the roof.